A pair of inventors based in Lexington think their light-up safety vest is the answer to curbing pedestrian fatalities, but Louisville leaders aren’t sold.

Cyclist Seth McBee was a nuclear engineer in Virginia when he and business partner Kevin Winzer got the idea for adding LED lights to Winzer’s motorcycle jacket for safety.

McBee taught himself how to sew and created the first prototype in Winzer’s basement.

The jacket eventually turned into a reflective vest called the Verve — with custom-color LED lights embedded inside — that McBee hopes people will wear to be seen by motorists.

The pair and their company, You Saw Me, ended up in Lexington, where the Verve won investment deals, and set up a manufacturing agreement with a children’s clothing manufacturer in Liberty, Ky.

“My whole mission is about saving lives,” McBee said. “If I can do that by creating a product that people ... actually like wearing, that’s where I see the value in the product.”

But John “Rolf” Eisinger, bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator for Louisville Metro Public Works, said full safety vests like the Verve may be too intrusive for most pedestrians.

“I haven’t seen any great studies about ‘Oh hey, we will give you a safety vest and then people will wear it for (longer),’ ” he said.

Chris Glasser, president of Bicycling for Louisville, said he agreed that reflective clothing wasn’t a practical solution. Glasser said he supports lowering speed limits for cars in high traffic areas.

“Pedestrians aren’t the problem. They aren’t causing the danger,” Glasser said. “Cars are causing the danger and we should be addressing that problem more than asking them to wear reflective gear.”

In 2013, 17 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in Louisville, according to data from Metro Public Works — nine more than in 2012. The city averaged about 14.6 pedestrians deaths per year in the last 10 years.

Since June, Louisville has been awarded two grants focusing on pedestrian safety — a $307,000 grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aimed at improving safety for pedestrians crossing streets and a second federal safety grant of $120,000, approved by the Metro Council in July.

The money from the second grant will go toward funding for child safety education programs like Safety City behind Bates Elementary School, and toward public service announcements for adult cyclists, pedestrians and motorists and handing out reflective clothing or lights that hook onto the waistband of pants.

Eisinger said educating pedestrians is a large part of what the city is doing to make streets safer.

“Often times you think motorists can see you as you’re walking, but chances are they can’t,” he said. “You’re kind of invisible without a light or reflectivity.”

McBee said he’s looking for state contacts on pedestrian safety, adding that the vests could even flash blue and red for police use. McBee thinks the lightweight vest — weighing just 12 ounces — will be seen as fashionable.

“People are strapping this vest on themselves so people are noticing you ... you’ll draw attention, but the attention that’s brought about also brings the fact that they aren’t hitting you,” he said.

Reporter Michael McKay can be reached at (502) 582-4653 or on Twitter @MichaelMcKay716